I use the saveas function in VB.NET and save the map as an html page.
One of the files in the subfolder will be an image
(ActiveXmap is the Active X map object on the form)
Dim objMap As map
Dim NA As New MapPoint.GeoMapRegion()
ActiveXMap.NewMap(NA.geoMapNorthAmerica)
ActiveXMap.PaneState = GeoPaneState.geoPaneLegend
pinMap = ActiveXMap.ActiveMap
pinMap.SaveAs("c:\myymap.htm", GeoSaveFormat.geoFormatHTMLMap, True)
the gif image will be in a subfolder named the same as the htm file exisiting in the same folder as the htm file and will be named image_map.gif

Hope this helps
I just cut and paste code from an exisiting pgm I have, so if you have any problems executing the code, reply to the post and let me know